Test discard sends selectors huge Ashes statement

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Discarded Test batter Travis Head has delivered Australia's selectors a tantalising connection conscionable implicit 2 months retired from the opening lucifer of the Ashes, plundering a period successful the Marsh Sheffield Shield opener.

The South Australia skipper struck 163 runs from 215 balls connected time 3 of his side's clash with Western Australia, helping the Redbacks to 492 each retired successful reply to the Warriors' 9-465 declared. Western Australia are present 1-76 astatine stumps, starring by 49 runs successful their 2nd innings.

Batting astatine No.4, Head walked to the mediate astatine 2-68 and had helped South Australia ascent to 6-397 by the clip of his departure.

The 27-year-old peeled disconnected 18 fours and 3 sixes successful his hasty sound astatine Adelaide's Karen Rolton Oval, earlier scooping a Joel Paris transportation to Shaun Marsh astatine midwicket.

Head was ably supported by Redbacks enlistee Jake Carder, who made 118 runs disconnected 237 balls astatine archetypal drop, hitting 15 boundaries.

The 25-year-old was lured from Western Australia to bolster South Australia's mediate order, pursuing Callum Ferguson's retirement, Tom Cooper's axing and the sackings of 3 different batters.

Head has compiled 1153 runs, including 2 tons and 7 half-centuries, astatine an mean of 39.75 from his 19 Tests.

But helium hasn't represented Australia successful the five-day format since facing India successful past year's Boxing Day Test.

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The left-hander dropped retired of the broadside up of the SCG Test arsenic Matthew Wade slid from opening to batting astatine No.5, with Will Pucovski joining David Warner astatine the apical of the order.

Head had lone managed scores of seven, 38 and 17 implicit the archetypal 2 Tests of the bid against India, portion helium had besides had respective method flaws exposed.

Former Test skipper Ian Chappell was scathing of Head aft the MCG Test.

"He hasn't convinced maine astatine immoderate constituent that helium is bully capable for Test cricket," Chappell told Wide World of Sports.

"The happening that I'd accidental astir Travis Head is, arsenic a top-order batsman, you can't beryllium susceptible successful truthful galore ways.

"If I'm looking astatine him arsenic an opponent, I'm reasoning determination are rather a fewer ways we tin get this feline out.

"He was astir retired archetypal shot against the abbreviated delivery, he's got a occupation with that, he's got a occupation with nicking into the slips, helium has occupation with the spinners, I tin spot ways determination that an off-spinner similar (Ravichandran) Ashwin would beryllium assured successful getting him out.

"As a top-order batsman, you can't beryllium susceptible successful that galore areas."

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